K.S.A. » Chapter 08
Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 8-133 (2026)

Display of license plate

✓ current as of May 2026
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8-133. Display of license plate. (a) The license plate assigned to the vehicle shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle and shall be displayed during the current registration year or years. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), a Kansas registered vehicle shall not have a license plate attached to the front of the vehicle.

(b) The following classes of vehicles shall attach a license plate in the location or locations specifically stated:

(1) The license plate issued for a truck tractor shall be attached to the front of the truck tractor;

(2) a model year license plate issued for an antique vehicle, in accordance with K.S.A. 8-172, and amendments thereto, may be attached to the front of the antique vehicle;

(3) a personalized license plate issued to a passenger vehicle or truck pursuant to K.S.A. 8-132(c), and amendments thereto, may be attached to the front of the passenger vehicle or truck;

(4) the license plate issued for a motor vehicle used as a concrete mixer truck may be attached to either the front or rear of the vehicle; and

(5) the license plate issued for a motor vehicle used as a dump truck with a gross weight of 26,000 pounds or more shall be attached to the front of the vehicle. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to such vehicle if such vehicle is registered as a farm truck.

(c) Every license plate shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle to which it is assigned, to prevent the plate from swinging, and at a height not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of such plate. The license plate shall be fastened in a place and position to be clearly visible, and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible.

(d) During any period in which the construction of license plates has been suspended pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 8-132, and amendments thereto, the plate, tag, token, marker or sign assigned to such vehicle shall be attached to and displayed on such vehicle in such place, position, manner and condition as shall be prescribed by the director of vehicles.

(e) A law enforcement officer shall issue a warning citation to anyone violating the provisions of subsection (b)(5). The provisions of this subsection shall expire and have no effect on and after January 1, 2022.

History: L. 1929, ch. 81, § 11; L. 1943, ch. 80, § 2; L. 1945, ch. 87, § 2; L. 1951, ch. 100, § 3; L. 1951, ch. 103, § 2; L. 1955, ch. 46, § 2; L. 1959, ch. 46, § 6; L. 1972, ch. 342, § 31; L. 1974, ch. 35, § 2; L. 1975, ch. 30, § 2; L. 1985, ch. 43, § 5; L. 1998, ch. 140, § 7; L. 1999, ch. 125, § 3; L. 2002, ch. 100, § 2; L. 2008, ch. 7, § 1; L. 2021, ch. 50, § 1; July 1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 27 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1983–2025 · leading case: United States v. Martinez, 518 F.3d 763 (10th Cir. 2008).
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United States v. Martinez, 518 F.3d 763 (10th Cir. 2008). · cites it 16× “Martinez’s black Jeep Liberty, as required by K.S.A. § 8-133, which provides that a license plate “shall be attached to the rear” of virtually every vehicle.”
United States v. Edgerton, 438 F.3d 1043 (10th Cir. 2006). · cites it 9× “According to the court: “Temporary tags must comply with K.S.A. 8-133, and “clearly legible” means the tag on a moving car is capable of being read by an officer in a car immediately following a safe distance behind.”
United States v. Lyons, 510 F.3d 1225 (10th Cir. 2007). · cites it 9× “2d 1387, 1389 (1983) (“[T]he display of an illegible or obscured vehicle tag is a violation of K.S.A. 8-133 even if the vehicle is duly licensed in another state.”
State v. Diaz-Ruiz, 211 P.3d 836 (Kan. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 16× “The trooper believed the defendant had failed to display a "clearly visible" tag in violation of K.S.A. 8-133. 438 F.3d at 1045-46 . However, when the trooper approached the vehicle, he could see that the temporary tag was issued by the State of Colorado and appeared to be valid.”
United States v. Concepcion Marie Ledesma, 447 F.3d 1307 (10th Cir. 2006). · cites it 5× “That she appears to have complied with Michigan law by following the printed instructions on the sticker does not render the detention unreasonable, both because state troopers cannot be expected to possess encyclopedic knowledge of the traffic regulations of other states, and…”
United States v. Orduna-Martinez, 491 F. Supp. 2d 1021 (D. Kan. 2007). · cites it 18× “§ 8-133 Although Trooper Nicholas did not refer to a particular statute during his testimony, his testimony is sufficient to show that he stopped defendant’s vehicle because he believed that the bracket’s partial covering of the expiration date on the registration sticker…”
State v. Hayes, 660 P.2d 1387 (Kan. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 3× “8-133 requires that each vehicle registered in Kansas display its license plate as follows: “Every number plate shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle to which it is assigned so as to prevent the plate from swinging, and at a height not less than twelve (12)…”
United States v. Orduna-Martinez, 561 F.3d 1134 (10th Cir. 2009). · cites it 3× “Then, he turns to the statute that requires license plates in general to be “clearly legible,” Kan. Stat. Ann. § 8-133 . Citing cases that have held that “clearly legible” means legible to an officer following at a safe distance, Mr.”
United States v. Velazquez, 494 F. Supp. 2d 1250 (D. Kan. 2007). · cites it 15× “Front Tag Under a strict reading of K.S.A. § 8-133, defendant’s tag was in violation of the statute because it was not “securely fastened to the vehicle;” therefore providing reasonable suspicion to support the stop.”
State v. Chacon-Bringuez, 18 P.3d 970 (Kan. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 3× “, Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Dallas Gilmore observed a pickup truck displaying a personalized license tag ‘WILLIAM” on the rear of the vehicle but not on the front, in violation of K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 8-133. Gilmore pulled the vehicle over to the shoulder and asked the driver…”
United States v. Ramstad, 308 F.3d 1139 (10th Cir. 2002). “Although Kansas law generally only requires vehicles to display a rear license plate, see Kan. Stat. Ann. § 8-133 , Trooper Smith believed that, under California law, California vehicles must display both a front and a rear license plate.”
United States v. Burleson, 657 F.3d 1040 (10th Cir. 2011). “2007) ("[B]ecause there was a violation of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 8-133 , [the officer] could temporarily detain Lyons, while requesting his driver's license and vehicle registration, running a criminal history check and issuing him a warning ticket.”
Show all 27 citing cases →
K.S.A. § 8-133(c): 2 cases
State v. Yeargin-Charles (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Beck (Kan. 2025).
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